The Dickinson press., 1887-10-15
pICKETT'S CHARGE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ACCOUNT
GIVEN BY GEN. %DEvEREAUx.

GIVEN BY GEN.
How tho Nineteenth Massachusetts and
the Tam,nany Regiment Behaved in One
of the Most Trying Contests of the
war.At the Apex.
Suddenly n single gun from the enelhys
lines broke the oppressive stiffness. IL was
plainly q signal. No sooner had its report
reused tho attention than every gun OH Sem
mary ridge opened in one grand salvo with
concentric fire on Gibbons division. The
shot from that signal gun struck Lieut..
Sherman S. Robinson, Of the Nineteenth
Massachusetts,, cutting his body nearly III
two, killing him instantly. From this time
on for two hours the roaring of the cannon
and bursting of shells from both sides was SO
incessant that the ear could not distinguish
individual explosions. 1t was one grand
raging clash of c~easeless sound.
The firing of cannon ceased almost as sud
denly as it began, and Picietts splendid
division moved out to cross the interval be-
tween the two low lying ridges occupied by
the opposing armies. on that magnificent
charge which has cxtorted the admlration,
unqualified, of their foes, must he ever mem
orablc in history, and which won the position
aimed for. but could not hold it. The story
of this grand effort has been many times re-
rented. and l shall limit myself to the rela-
ton of what occurred after Pickett had
crossed the Emmetslnrg pike and came
sweeping up the slope. still carrying every
thing before him as ii borne forward ny All
ruling fate. The knoll bearing the historic
Little Oak grove slopes off well toward the
south and east. From the left OF my Inc
1.-TWO detached regiments of Halls brigade
Col. Mallon and myself had a view which
compassed a good deal of the ground even
directly i'll front of that elevation.
Standing there, looking on the grand array
of that majestic charge, was it mere impulse
that stirred me to move forward my men
nearer vet to that s'Single Line CT Blue! VI
was it prompting from a higher source That
determined the action! One can only tell
when all secrets are unveiled. However, II
was done. Plain it was that We could not es-
cape some part of the tragedy to follow. ~
might be n desperate one, nnd what was the
material upon which reliance must IL placed
to meet and perform the duty: The Nlne-
teenth Massachusetts had been trained from
the start in u discipline rs stern us that OF
Cromwell's "Ironsides." Nevertheless, 1t hnu
never come within the range OF my expert
ence to know q body of troops where mutual
confidence of officers and men existed i'll
higher degree.
TODAY the Nineteenth Massachusetts, has
with it the Forty-second New York, TAM
many's contribution to the country's cause.
In them was all the traditional fun and light,
Paddy's heritage, which centuries OF oppres-
sion cannot rob him of nor reprcss. They
were in excellent condition under the firm
rule of Mallon.
Col. Mallon and myself could view the
whole scene, standing up as NC were, ana
were probably the only persons close enough
readily to distinguish all which occurred, and
so entirely FREQ from personal participation MS
to DO able intelligently to Judge it. We see
that Webb cannot firmly hold his men against
the shock of that fierce charge, though he
NAV throw himself with reckless courage i'll
front to face the storm, and beg, threaten and
command. Halls right, overlappcd, has to
sag back with sullen fury, swaylnS to the
rear from the pressure, but swaying forward
again like ocean surges against a rock. luis
creates disorder, heightened by tho men of
Harrow's brigade surging also i'll that direc-
ton, apparently without orders or concert,
but guided by some instinct of hur1ying to
the rescue. Everything was in confusion,
regimental organization was lost, ranks were
eight or ten deep, pushing, swaying, strug-
Cling, refusing to yield, but almost impotent
for good. A great gap yawns Immediately
between Webb and Hall. The entire width
Of the Oak grove and for some distance to tho
right is stripped of defense OH our line. Every
gun OIL our front there is silenced. Wood
ruff, Gushing, Brown, Rorty and every othor
commissioned officer, almost without eXcep-
ton, of the respective batteries, is dead or
disabled and Gibbon badly wounded. Was
this devoted Second corps, whose proud boast
1t was that it 'never lost a gun or q color" to
succumb ut last!
"Mallon, we must move" Just then q
headlong rush of horses feet, spurred to the
utmost, mi up the hollow behind from the
direction of the Baltimore pike. turned.
There, looking the very embodiment of the
tho god of war, rode Hancock, the Superb"
shouted as he nearly trampled OH my mel,
still lying down and as yet unseen by him.
He threw his horse OH his launches. "See,'
! cried, "their colors; they have broken
through. Let ME get in there" His charac-
teristic answer fitted time and place, and he
shot like an arrow past my left toward Halls
struggling lines, receiving in a few seconds
the wound that swept him from his saddle
and so nearly cost him his life. Meanwhile
Mallon, springing from my side, was instantly
with his men, and both regiments on the
double quick moved side by side to fill that
fearful gap.
The two lines came together with a shock
which stopped both and caused a slight re-
bound. For several minutes they faced and
fired into each other at q distance (Which l
carefully measured after the fight. a little
short of fifteen PAGES. Everything seemed
trembling in the balance. Whichever side
could get q motion forward must surely win.
Gen. Alexander S. Webb l couldn't see. Just
then / felt rather than saw Hall, us he ap-
peared Mt my side. 1--WE are steady now"
he said. "Sure; but we must move" l re-
piled. At the instant a man broke
through my lines and thrust q rebel
battle flag into my hand. He never said q
word and darted back. 1t wls Corporal
Joseph H. De Castro, one of my color bearers.
He had knocked dow a color bearer in the
unemy's line with the staff of the Massachu-
sets state colors, seized the falling flag and
dashed with it to me. Mallon had by this
time wrapped round the right of the grove a
little. The opposing lines were standing as II
rooted, dealing death into each other. how
long it Is impossible to say with exactness.
There they stood and wouldn't move.
All Of a sudden q strange, r~esistless impulse
seemed to urge the Union men. lean com.
pare it only to a Titan's stride. Our lines
seemed to actually leap forward. There was
at once an indescribable rush Of thick, hurry.
ing scenes. I held the blunted apex of the re
entering angle, which was the appearance
made by our lines. A yell. A shout. NJ,
line seemed to open as if by magic. 1t wa,
not flight, however. A flood Of unarmed
defenseless men poured through. The,
almost ran over me. The remnant of Pick
ettas gallant men abandon that nearly i'll
vincible charge, and Gettysburg translated
reads, "a Nation Saved ."-Magazine o
American History.
A Gambler Decorated.
The French government, which some tim